Chest mobility, cough strength, muscle strength, physical activity, and quality of life in parkinson's patients who had COVID-19.

BACKGROUND

Some symptoms of COVID-19 may persist for a long time in individuals who had COVID-19. Since effects of COVID-19 on chest mobility, cough strength, grip strength, physical activity, and quality of life in Parkinson's patients are still unclear, current study aimed to investigate this issue.

METHODS

Parkinson's patients with and without a history of COVID-19 (n = 17, 66.65 ± 12.01 years versus n = 21, 68.71 ± 10.35 years) were included in this study. Cognitive functions (Mini-Mental State Examination), severity and disability status of Parkinson's disease (Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS), Modified Hoehn and Yahr Scale (MHYS)), chest mobility (chest circumference measurement with a tape measure), cough strength (a PEFmeter), hand grip strength (a hand-dynamometer), physical activity level (a pedometer) and quality of life (Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39 (PDQ-39)) were evaluated in all individuals.

RESULTS

Parkinson's patients with COVID-19 history had lower subcostal chest circumference measurement difference, grip strength and step count measured on 1st day, and higher MDS-UPDRS part I and PDQ-39 scores than patients without COVID-19 history (p < 0.05). Cognitive functions, MHYS, other parts of MDS-UPDRS, axillar and epigastric chest circumference measurement differences, cough strength and average step counts values were similar between groups (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Disease severity due to non-motor symptoms, abdominal respiration, peripheral muscle strength, daily step count and quality of life worsened in Parkinson's patients with COVID-19 history compared to those without COVID-19 history and these parameters should be therefore monitored regularly. Chest respiration and cough strength were preserved in these individuals.